The symptoms of of spasmodic dysphonia are strained, breathy or shaky voice, involuntary spasms of your vocal cords, difficulty in controlling of your voice volume or voice pitch and voice changes which may get worse with stress or fatigue.
Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological voice disorder which causes involuntary spasms of the muscles which control your vocal cords.
The spasms can cause changes in your voice and make your voice sound strained, breathy or shaky.
The cause of spasmodic dysphonia is not yet known although it is believed that spasmodic dysphonia is related to an imbalance in the neurotransmitters in your brain which control muscle movement.
There are two main types of spasmodic dysphonia which include adductor spasmodic dysphonia and abductor spasmodic dysphonia.
Adductor spasmodic dysphonia is when your vocal cords close too tightly and cause a strained or strangled voice.
Abductor spasmodic dysphonia is when your vocal cords open too widely and result in a whispery or breathy voice.
Treatment for spasmodic dysphonia include speech therapy, botulinum toxin injections, medications such as anticholinergics and surgery in rare cases.
Botulinum toxin injections are injected into the vocal cords to temporarily paralyze the muscles that causes spasms.
A speech therapist can also teach people with spasmodic dysphonia techniques to manage symptoms and improve voice quality.
Surgery in rare cases can be done to adjust the muscles which control the vocal cords.
And anticholinergics can reduce muscle spasms.